The decrease during the month was attributed to the production of non-durable consumer goods falling by 1.5% and intermediate goods by 0.5%. Meanwhile production of energy rose by 0.8%, capital goods by 1.0% and durable consumer goods by 1.5%.

On the year, industrial production in the euro bloc was up 0.6%, below expectations of a 0.8% rise.

In the EU-28 group of countries, industrial production was down 0.3% on the month but increased by 0.5% on the year. ■